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»Box score, B2
MADISON TWP. — The last three games have been a learning experience for the Middletown Christian boys basketball team.
After starting the season with four straight wins, the Eagles have lost three consecutive games, including a 64-49 setback to Reading on Monday night in the Brian Cook Classic at Madison High School.
MCS (4-3) stuck close to the Blue Devils until midway through the second quarter. That’s when Reading (4-2) found Jake Overbeck wide open underneath the basket on back-to-back-to-back possessions as part of an 11-0 run that took a one-point lead to 12 points.
The Eagles never really got back into the game as Reading continued to add on to what would become a 21-point lead before MCS scored the final six points of the game.
“The second quarter was good for us,” Reading coach Rich Bensman said. “I think it was 14-10 at one point and then we started to do some things better like sharing the ball, attacking the gaps and getting more good looks.”
Overbeck, who finished with a game-high 20 points, was a big part of that attack as 10 of his 20 points came in the second period.
“He was not so good in our double overtime loss to Wyoming,” Bensman said of the Blue Devils’ last game. “But he had much better shot selection today.
Cole Cloud added 11 points for the Blue Devils.
“We’re building a program here and it just takes time to get guys to believe they are as good as they are,” MCS coach Luke Gibson said. “It’s a struggle, but they’ll figure it out.”
The Eagles had a hard time figuring out Reading in this game.
“They dominated us on the boards,” Gibson said, adding that his team had a difficult time working the ball inside. “I thought Zach (Henderson) did a good job down low for us, but he needs some support.
“Our style is to get the ball up and down the court, but we didn’t play with that mindset tonight,” he continued. “We forced some bad shots and we just didn’t execute. This is very disappointing.”
Zach Wise led the Eagles with 19 points.
Middletown Christian will play Madison at 6 p.m. today in the consolation game, while Reading will face Stivers in the championship match at 7:30 p.m.
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2852 or sweaver@coxohio.com.
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